Calcium signalling: Past, present and future

Ca2+ is a universal second messenger controlling a wide variety of cellular reactions and adaptive responses. The initial appreciation of Ca2+ as a universal signalling molecule was based on the work of Sydney Ringer and Lewis Heilbrunn. More recent developments in this field were critically influenced by the invention of the patch clamp technique and the generation of fluorescent Ca2+ indicators. Currently the molecular Ca2+ signalling mechanisms are being worked out and we are beginning to assemble a reasonably complete picture of overall Ca2+ homeostasis. Furthermore, investigations of organellar Ca2+ homeostasis have added complexity to our understanding of Ca2+ signalling. The future of the Ca2+ signalling field lies with detailed investigations of the integrative function in vivo and clarification of the pathology associated with malfunctions of Ca2+ signalling cascades.

Microtechnologies and nanotechnologies for single-cell analysis

Many efforts are currently underway to try and mimic the properties of single cells with the aim of designing chips that are as efficient as cells. However, cells are nature's nanotechnology engineering at the scale of atoms and molecules, and it might be better to envision a microchip that utilizes a single cell as an experimentation platform. A novel, so-called laboratory-in-a-cell concept has been described, where advantage is taken of micro- and nanotechnological tools to enable precise control of the biochemical cellular environment; these tools also offer the possibility to analyse the composition of single cells. Methods for single-cell handling and analysis are being developed and will be required for this concept to progress further.

Transfection via whole-cell recording in vivo: bridging single-cell physiology, genetics and connectomics

Single-cell genetic manipulation is expected to substantially advance the field of systems neuroscience. However, existing gene delivery techniques do not allow researchers to electrophysiologically characterize cells and to thereby establish an experimental link between physiology and genetics for understanding neuronal function. In the mouse brain in vivo, we found that neurons remained intact after 'blind' whole-cell recording, that DNA vectors could be delivered through the patch-pipette during such recordings and that these vectors drove protein expression in recorded cells for at least 7 d. To illustrate the utility of this approach, we recorded visually evoked synaptic responses in primary visual cortical cells while delivering DNA plasmids that allowed retrograde, monosynaptic tracing of each neuron's presynaptic inputs. By providing a biophysical profile of a cell before its specific genetic perturbation, this combinatorial method captures the synaptic and anatomical receptive field of a neuron.

QPatch: the past, present and future of automated patch clamp

The QPatch 16 significantly increases throughput for gigaseal patch clamp experiments, making direct measurements in ion channel drug discovery and safety testing feasible. Released to the market in the Autumn of 2004 by Sophion Bioscience, the QPatch originated from work done at NeuroSearch (Denmark) in the early days of automated patch clamp. Today, the QPatch provides many unique features. For example, only the QPatch includes an automated cell preparation station making several hours of unattended operation possible. The 16-channel electrode array, called the QPlate, includes glass-coated microfluidic channels for less compound absorption and, hence, more accurate IC(50) values. The microfluidic pathways also allow for very small amounts of compound used for each experiment ( approximately 5 microl per addition). Only the QPatch has four independent pipetting heads for more efficient liquid handling (especially for ligand-gated ion channel experiments). Patch clamp recordings with the QPatch match the high quality of conventional patch clamp and in some cases the results are even better. For example, only the QPatch includes 100% series resistance compensation for the elimination of false positives due to voltage errors. Finally, the modular QPatch 16 was designed with more channels in mind. The upgrade pathway to 48-channels (the QPatch HT) will be discussed.

Patch-seq: Past, Present, and Future

Single-cell transcriptomic approaches are revolutionizing neuroscience. Integrating this wealth of data with morphology and physiology, for the comprehensive study of neuronal biology, requires multiplexing gene expression data with complementary techniques. To meet this need, multiple groups in parallel have developed "Patch-seq," a modification of whole-cell patch-clamp protocols that enables mRNA sequencing of cell contents after electrophysiological recordings from individual neurons and morphologic reconstruction of the same cells. In this review, we first outline the critical technical developments that enabled robust Patch-seq experimental efforts and analytical solutions to interpret the rich multimodal data generated. We then review recent applications of Patch-seq that address novel and long-standing questions in neuroscience. These include the following: (1) targeted study of specific neuronal populations based on their anatomic location, functional properties, lineage, or a combination of these factors; (2) the compilation and integration of multimodal cell type atlases; and (3) the investigation of the molecular basis of morphologic and functional diversity. Finally, we highlight potential opportunities for further technical development and lines of research that may benefit from implementing the Patch-seq technique. As a multimodal approach at the intersection of molecular neurobiology and physiology, Patch-seq is uniquely positioned to directly link gene expression to brain function.

Whole-Cell Recording of Neuronal Membrane Potential during Behavior

Neuronal membrane potential is of fundamental importance for the mechanistic understanding of brain function. This review discusses progress in whole-cell patch-clamp recordings for low-noise measurement of neuronal membrane potential in awake behaving animals. Whole-cell recordings can be combined with two-photon microscopy to target fluorescently labeled neurons, revealing cell-type-specific membrane potential dynamics of retrogradely or genetically labeled neurons. Dual whole-cell recordings reveal behavioral modulation of membrane potential synchrony and properties of synaptic transmission in vivo. Optogenetic manipulations are also readily integrated with whole-cell recordings, providing detailed information about the effect of specific perturbations on the membrane potential of diverse types of neurons. Exciting developments for future behavioral experiments include dendritic whole-cell recordings and imaging, and use of the whole-cell recording pipette for single-cell delivery of drugs and DNA, as well as RNA expression profiling. Whole-cell recordings therefore offer unique opportunities for investigating the neuronal circuits and synaptic mechanisms driving membrane potential dynamics during behavior.

Microchip Technology in Ion-Channel Research

The electrical activity of living cells can be monitored in various ways, but for the study of ion channels and the drugs that affect them, the patch-clamp techniques are the most sensitive. Recent developments in microfabricated patch-clamp electrodes are reviewed, and technical challenges for the future are discussed.

MRCI: a flexible real-time dynamic clamp system for electrophysiology experiments

We present a real-time simulation system that enables modeled dynamical systems to interact with physical experimental systems, and is specifically aimed towards execution of the dynamic clamp protocol. Model reference current injection (MRCI) operates under Real-Time Linux (RT-Linux or RTL) and provides a simple equation-oriented language for describing dynamical system models. Features include scripting of commands to implement repeatable protocols, the ability to output pre-computed waveforms through any variable or parameter of the model, the means to conduct time measurements and assess the computational performance of the real-time system, and an installation program that installs the software and accompanying device drivers with minimal input from the user. Tested models operate as fast as 30 kHz, with actual maximum rates dependent on model complexity. We present sample models that exhibit the main features of the modeling language. Experiments demonstrate the abilities of the system by creating a hybrid network of real and simulated neurons, and playing a pre-defined synaptic waveform into a synaptic conductance variable. We conclude by introducing a waveform reconstruction technique that is useful for establishing the presence of significant experimental error in implementations of the dynamic clamp protocol.

Advances in the automation of whole-cell patch clamp technology

Electrophysiology is the study of neural activity in the form of local field potentials, current flow through ion channels, calcium spikes, back propagating action potentials and somatic action potentials, all measurable on a millisecond timescale. Despite great progress in imaging technologies and sensor proteins, none of the currently available tools allow imaging of neural activity on a millisecond timescale and beyond the first few hundreds of microns inside the brain. The patch clamp technique has been an invaluable tool since its inception several decades ago and has generated a wealth of knowledge about the nature of voltage- and ligand-gated ion channels, sub-threshold and supra-threshold activity, and characteristics of action potentials related to higher order functions. Many techniques that evolve to be standardized tools in the biological sciences go through a period of transformation in which they become, at least to some degree, automated, in order to improve reproducibility, throughput and standardization. The patch clamp technique is currently undergoing this transition, and in this review, we will discuss various aspects of this transition, covering advances in automated patch clamp technology both in vitro and in vivo.

Real-time closed-loop electrophysiology: towards new frontiers in in vitro investigations in the neurosciences

Reflected at any level of organization of the central nervous system, most of the processes ranging from ion channels to neuronal networks occur in a closed loop, where the input to the system depends on its output. In contrast, most in vitro preparations and experimental protocols operate autonomously, and do not depend on the output of the studied system. Thanks to the progress in digital signal processing and real-time computing, it is now possible to artificially close the loop and investigate biophysical processes and mechanisms under increased realism. In this contribution, we review some of the most relevant examples of a new trend in in vitro electrophysiology, ranging from the use of dynamic-clamp to multi-electrode distributed feedback stimulation. We are convinced these represents the beginning of new frontiers for the in vitro investigation of the brain, promising to open the still existing borders between theoretical and experimental approaches while taking advantage of cutting edge technologies.

[The advances of the research work on lens cells using patch clamp technique]

The study of lens cells by patch clamp technique began in the early 90's. It shows that the membrane of lens cells possess different types of ionic channels. These channels are responsible for the modulation of the hydration state and transparency of lens. Several patch clamp configurations have been used to study the activity of ionic channels. The resting potential and capacitance as well as resistance of different lens cells were also measured.

The evolution of patch-clamp electrophysiology: Robotic, multiplex, and dynamic

The patch-clamp technique has been the gold standard for analysis of excitable cells. Since its development in the 1980s, it has contributed immensely to our understanding of neurons, muscle cells, and cardiomyocytes and the ion channels and receptors that reside within them. This technique, predicated on Ohm's law, enables precise measurement of macroscopic excitability patterns and assessment of ionic and gating conductance, even to the single channel level. Over the years, patch-clamp electrophysiology has undergone extensive modifications, with the introduction of new applications that have enhanced its power and reach. The most recent evolution of this technique occurred with the introduction of robotic high-throughput automated platforms that enable high-quality simultaneous recordings, in both voltage- and current-clamp modes, from tens to hundreds of cells, including cells freshly isolated from their native tissues. Combined with new dynamic-clamp applications, these new methods provide increasingly powerful tools for studying the contributions of ion channels and receptors to electrogenesis. In this brief review, we provide an overview of these enhanced patch-clamp techniques, followed by some of the applications presently being pursued, and a perspective into the potential future of the patch-clamp method. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: The patch-clamp technique, introduced in the 1980s, has revolutionized the understanding of electrogenesis. Predicated on Ohm's law, this approach facilitates exploration of ionic conductances, gating mechanisms of ion channels and receptors, and their roles in neuronal, muscular, and cardiac excitability. Robotic platforms for high-throughput patch-clamp and dynamic-clamp have recently expanded their reach. Here, we outline new advances in patch-clamp including high-throughput analysis of freshly isolated neurons and discuss the increasingly powerful trajectory of new patch-clamp techniques.